Uncoupling mechanism



p 1945- M. P. BLOMBERG I I 2,384,808

UNCOUPLING MECHANISM Filed July 24, 1944 2 She etS- Sheet l Zhwentor p 1945. MP. BLOMBERG UNCOUPLING MEcnAfiIsM Filed July 24, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 18, 1945 UN COUPLING MECHANISM Martin P. Blomberg, Hinsdale, Ill., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a

corporation of Delaware Application July 24, 1944, Serial No. 546,366

Claims.

This invention relates to uncoupling mechanism of the type used in connection with railway vehicles to make it possible to unlock the coupler from either side of the vehicle by manipulating a. handle located at each side.

It is an object of the invention to provide such mechanism which may be easily and quickly connected to standard couplers, particularly to those of the rotary lock type, and which after being so connected, is positively retained against detachment therefrom. This is accomplished by forming the adapter, which is thepart which enages the rotary lock lifter, in two pieces which after they have been assembled in position in openings in the coupler, overlap each other and are then riveted or bolted together so that they thereafter function as though the adapter had been made in one piece.

A further object is to provide an uncoupling mechanism which will be extremely simple in construction, and which may easily and quickly be mounted in position upon any type .of railway vehicle equipped with a coupler of the type the adapter is intended for use with.'

Other objects andadvantages of the invention will be apparent upon reference to the specification and accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a railway vehicle, showing my improved uncoupling mechanism associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 3, with parts broken away.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective View showing the details of construction of the adapter.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 68 of Fig. 5.

The reference numeral I0 indicates a coupler head and I2 is the shank thereof which is supported in the coupler pocket l4, the latter being secured to the car under frame l8. i8 is a lifter which normally is in the downward position shown in Fig. 3, and which, when rotated upwardly by mechanism to be presently described, servesto unlock the coupler to permit adjacent cars to be uncoupled. The above described structure is shown in dot-and-dash lines since it is of conventional construction and forms no part of the present invention. 7

- is an adapter which straddles the coupler and is pivotally supported in openings 22 provided in each side thereof. For purposes of installation in the coupler, this adapter is formed of two generally L-shaped members 24 and 28, which after assembly are secured together, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Referring particularly to Fig. 5, the member '24 is comprised of a horizontally extending portion 28 which is of semi-cylindrical shape in cross-section, there being a longitudinally extending groove 88 formed in its flat face. Extending upwardly from one end of the portion 28 is an arm 32 which has a rectangular shaped boss 34 formed at the point where it connects with the portion 28, there being a hole 36 extending through this boss. A similar boss 38 having a hole 40 extending therethrough is formed at the opposite end of the portion 28. The arm 32 is provided with an angularly extending portion 42 adjacent its upper end, there being an outwardly extending projection 44 formed at the point where the portion 42 merges with the arm 32. The upper end of the portion 42 extends outwardly at a right angle thereto and is of cylindrical shape in cross-section to form a pintle portion 48, which is adapted to fit into one of the openings 22 in the coupler to pivotally support the adapter.

The member 26 is similar to the member 24, except that it is opposite hand, its horizontally extending semi-cylindrical portion 48 being provided on its fiat face with a tongue 50 which is adapted to fit within the groove 38 on the portion 28 to properly position the parts relative to each other when they are being assembled together.

Am 52 and angularly extending portion 84 of the member 26 have a projection 58 formed at their point of junction, while a pintle portion 88 extends outwardly from the upper end of the portion 54. At the lower end of arm 52 a rectangular shaped, boss 60 having a hole extending there through is formed, while at the opposite end of the portion 48 a similar boss 62 having a hole therein is provided.

When the adapter is to be connected to the coupler, the members 24 and 28, which at that time are not secured together, are placed in such position as will permit the pintle portions 46 and the adapter.

noted that when the portions 28 and 48 are secured together, the resultant combination is of cylindrical shape in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 6. Bolts or any other suitable securing devices may of course be used instead of the rivets 84 to fasten the two members together.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, BB is a link having an elongated slot 88 formed in one end, and

an inverted U-shaped portion It at the other end. This U-shaped portion is adapted to fit over the cylindrical section formed by the two portions 28 and 48 after they have been secured together. A bolt l2 having a nut M threaded thereon is inserted through a hole formed in leg I3 of the U-shaped portion and serves to hold the latter in place on the cylindrical central part of Extending through the slot 68 is the central portion I6 of a bail formed of bar stock, which is bent rearwardly to form portions I8 and 8B, which have connected to them upwardly extending portions 82 and 84, the ends of which are bent around to form eyes 85 and 88. The purpose of the slot 58 in the end of the link is to permit the latter to swing to angular positions relative to the central portion 78 of the ball when the coupler swings sidewise when the car is roundin curves, and also to allow for movement oi the coupler toward the car when the draft gear is compressed during buiiing action between two cars.

90 is an uncoupling rod which is journalled adjacent its inner end in a support 92 secured to the coupler pocket by bolts 9t, and at its outer end in a support 95 which is secured by bolts 98 to a bracket I which extends downwardly from the car underframe. The outer end of this rod is bent downwardly at :02 and then inwardly and forwardly as at I06 to form a handle portion which is accessible from the side of the car. The inner-end of the rod 99 extends through the eye 86 of the bail and is bent around in U-shape as at I06 to form an outwardly directed projection M8. The U-shaped portion I bears against a stop I III which is welded to the coupler pocket, this serving to limit axial movement of the uncoupling rod 90 in its supports 92 and 96 At the other side of the coupler, uncoupling rod H2 is bent downwardly to form portion Ht which then is bent in U-shape as at I It to provide an outwardly directed projection H8 which extends through a support Hi3 which is secured by bolts 522 to the coupler pocket and which serves asthe inner pivotal support for the uncoupling rod. The outer end of the latter is not shown but is similar in construction to the other side, there being a handle portion provided on the rod which is accessible from that side of the car. The U- shaped portion I I6 bears against a stop I24 which is welded to the coupler pocket and serves to limit axial movement of the rod H2 in its pivotal supports.

Secured to the upwardly extending portion 82 of the bail is a lug I26 which has connected to it one end of a tension spring I28, the opposite end of which is connected to a bracket I30 secured to the underside of the coupler pocket. The purpose of this spring is to normally hold the bail and the parts connected to it in the position shown in the full lines in Figs. 2 and 3.

When it is desired to unlock the coupler from the left hand side of the car, as viewed in Figs. 1 to 3, the handle I02 is swung upwardly in a counter-clockwise direction. This of course rotates the rod 90 in its supports 92 and 96, causing the projection I08 to engage the upwardly gage the lifter I8 and to rotate the latter up-- wardly which unlocks the knuckle of the coupler so that adjacent cars may be uncoupled. This position oi the uncoupling rods, the link and the adapter are shown in dot-and-dash lines in Figs. 2 and 3.

After the uncoupling operation has been completed and the handle I02 has been released by the operator, the spring I2 serves to return the parts to their normal position, indicated in full lines in Figs. 2 and 3. When the uncoupling mechanism is in this position, the knuckle oi the coupler is in position wherein it will interlock with the knuckle of an adjacent car when the two cars are to be coupled together, and will be locked in that position until the uncoupling mechanism is operated to unlock it. It will be understood that the knuckle of each coupler locks independently of the other, and that adjacent cars are held together by this interlocking action of the knuckles on the two couplers.

It will be noted that when the coupler is being unlocked by rotation of the uncoupling rod so, the uncoupling rod-H2 on the other side of the car is not disturbed, since the upwardly extending portion 84 of the bail merely swings away from the portion I Hi of the rod I I2, forming what is in effect a lost motion connection between the uncoupling rod and the bail. The purpose of having the eyes 85 and 88 encircle the rod Qll and the projection II8 respectively is to support the bail from and connect it to the uncoupling rods in such manner as to provide this lost motion connection.

When it is desired to unlock the coupler from the right-hand side of the car, as viewed in Figs. 1 to 3, the handle portion at the outer end of the uncoupling rod H2 is swung away from the car, thereby rotating that rod and causing the portion Ill thereof to engage the upwardly extending'portion 34 of the bail, whichswings the latter away from the car, and as previously described, through the connection of the link 66 rotates the adapter 20 which raises the lifter i8 therebyunlocking the coupler. During this movement, the portion 82 on the opposite side of the bail merely swings away from the projection it! so that the rod 90 is not caused to move. When the handle on the uncoupling rod I I2 is released, the spring I28 serves to return the parts to their normal position, as previously described.

While a specific embodiment of my uncoupling mechanism has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that-various changes in size, shape and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope oi the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an uncoupling mechanism for car coupiers equipped with a lift lever for unlocking the coupler, a two-piece member pivotally supported on said coupler and adapted to engage said lever, a bail, a link connecting said member to said bail, and an uncoupling rod extending to the side of the car, said'rod when rotated being adapted to engage said bail to move the latter whereby the member will lift said lever sewing to unlock the coupler.

2. In an uncoupling mechanism for car couplers provided with a rotary lock lift lever, a two-piece adapter pivotally supported on said coupler and adapted to engage said lever, a bail, a link connecting said adapter to, said ball, and an uncoupling rod connected to said bail and extending to the side of the car, said rod when rotated being adapted to engage saidbail to move the latter whereby the adapter will lift said lever serving to unlock the coupler.

3. In an uncoupling mechanism for car couplers equipped with a lift lever for unlocking the coupler, a two-piece member pivotally supported in openings on opposite sides of the coupler and adapted to engage said lever, a bail, a link connecting said member to said bail, and an uncou-- pling rod connected to said bail and extending to the side of the car, said rod when rotated being adapted to move said bail whereby the memher will lift said lever serving to unlock the coupler.

4. In an uncoupling mechanism for car couplers equipped with a lift lever for unlocking the coupler, an adapter pivotally supported in openings on opposite sides of the coupler and adapted to engage said lever, said adapter comprising two overlapping members which are separately inserted in said openings and are thereafter secured together to form the complete adapter, a bail, a link connecting said adapter to said bail, and an uncoupling rod extending to the side of the car, said rod when rotated being adapted to engage said ball to move the latter whereby the adapter will lift said lever serving to unlock the coupler.

5. In an uncoupling mechanism for car couplers equipped with a lift lever for unlocking the coupler, an adapter pivotally supported in openlngs onopposite sides of the coupler and adapted to engage said lever, said adapter comprising two generally L-shaped members the lower legs of which are adapted to overlap each other when the upper ends have been separately inserted in said openings and are thereafter secured together to form the complete adapter, a bail, a link connecting said adapter to said bail, and an uncoupling rod extending to the side of the car, said,

rod when rotated being adapted to engage. said bail to move the latter whereby the adapter will lift said lever serving to unlock the coupler.

6. In an uncoupling mechanism for car couplers equipped with a lift lever for unlocking the coupler, an adapter pivotally supported in openings on opposite sides of the coupler and adapted to engage said lever, said adapter comprising two generally L-shaped members the lower legs of which have portions which are of semi-cylindrical shape in cross-section and which are adapted to overlap each other when the upper ends of the members have been inserted in the openings after which the members are secured together to form the complete adapter, the flat'inner faces of the two semi-cylindrical portions fitting against each other so that their outer surfaces together form a cylindrical portion, a bail, a link having a U-shaped hook at one end which fits over said cylindrical portion and a slot at the other end, said ball extending through said slot, and an upcoupling rod connected to said ball and extending to the side of the car, said rod when rotated being adapted to move said ball whereby the adapter will lift said lever serving to unlock the coupler.

'7. In an uncoupling mechanism for car couplers equipped with a lift lever for unlocking the coupler, a two-piece member pivotally supported on said coupler and adapted to engage said lever, a bail, a link connecting said member to said bail, and an uncoupling rod extending to the side of the car, said rod when rotated being adapted to engage said bail to move the latter whereby said member will lift said lever serving to unlock the coupler, said bail being supported by said uncoupling rod.

8. In an uncoupling mechanism for car couplers equipped with a lift lever for unlocking the coupler, a two-piece member pivotally supported on said coupler and adapted to engage said lever, a bail, a link connecting said member to said bail,

and a pair of uncoupling rods extending to opposite sides of the car, said rods when rotated being adapted to engage said ball to move the latter w ereby said member will lift said lever serving to unlock the coupler, said bail having eye portions formed at its upper ends, one of said uncoupling rods extending through each of said eye portions whereby the bail will be connected to said said uncoupling rods and will be supported therefrom.

9. In an uncoupling mechanism for car couplers equipped with a lift lever for unlocking the coupler, a U-shaped two-piece member adapted to engage said lever and having pintle portions formed at its upper ends, said pintle port-ions extending into openings provided in the opposite sides of the coupler to form pivotal supports for said member, a bail, a link connecting said ball with said member, and an uncoupling rod extending to the side of the car, said rod when rotated being adapted to engage said bail to move the latter whereby the member will lift said lever serving to unlock the coupler.

10. In an uncoupling mechanism for car couplers equipped with a lift lever for unlocking the coupler, a U-shaped two-piece member having pintle portions formed at its upper ends and projections extending laterally from the intermediate portions of its vertical legs, said pintle portions fitting into openings provided in the opposite sides of the coupler to form pivotal supports for said member, a bail, a link connecting said bail with said member, and an uncoupling rod extending to the side of the car, said rod when rotated being adapted to engage said ball to move the latter whereby the projections on said member will engage said lever to lift the latter and thereby unlock the coupler.

MARTIN P. BLOMBERG. 

